(SS)(PS) Clark v. Commissioner of Social Security, No. 2:2012cv02550 - Document 18 (E.D. Cal. 2013)

Court Description: FINDINGS and RECOMMENDATIONS signed by Magistrate Judge Craig M. Kellison on 11/5/13 RECOMMENDING that this action be dismissed, without prejudice, for lack of prosecution and failure to comply with court rules and orders. Within 14 days after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written objections with the court. Matter referred to Judge Morrison C. England, Jr.. (Kastilahn, A)

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(SS)(PS) Clark v. Commissioner of Social Security Doc. 18 1 2 3 4 5 6 IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT 7 FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA 8 9 HOWARD M. CLARK, JR., 10 11 12 No. 2:12-CV-2550-MCE-CMK PS Plaintiff, vs. FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATION COMMISSIONER OF SOCIAL SECURITY, 13 Defendant. 14 / 15 Plaintiff, who is proceeding in propria persona, brings this action for judicial 16 review of a final decision of the Commissioner of Social Security under 42 U.S.C. § 405(g). 17 Pursuant to the court’s scheduling order, plaintiff is required to prosecute this 18 action by either seeking voluntary remand or filing a dispositive motion within 45 days from the 19 date of service of the administrative record by defendant. Plaintiff was warned that failure to 20 comply may result in dismissal of this action for lack of prosecution and failure to comply with 21 court rules and orders. See Local Rule 110. A review of the docket reflects that the answer and 22 certified administrative record were filed and served on August 1, 2013. To date, plaintiff has not 23 filed a dispositive motion. 24 25 26 The court must weigh five factors before imposing the harsh sanction of dismissal. See Bautista v. Los Angeles County, 216 F.3d 837, 841 (9th Cir. 2000); Malone v. 1 Dockets.Justia.com 1 U.S. Postal Service, 833 F.2d 128, 130 (9th Cir. 1987). Those factors are: (1) the public's 2 interest in expeditious resolution of litigation; (2) the court's need to manage its own docket; (3) 3 the risk of prejudice to opposing parties; (4) the public policy favoring disposition of cases on 4 their merits; and (5) the availability of less drastic sanctions. See id.; see also Ghazali v. Moran, 5 46 F.3d 52, 53 (9th Cir. 1995) (per curiam). A warning that the action may be dismissed as an 6 appropriate sanction is considered a less drastic alternative sufficient to satisfy the last factor. 7 See Malone, 833 F.2d at 132-33 & n.1. The sanction of dismissal for lack of prosecution is 8 appropriate where there has been unreasonable delay. See Henderson v. Duncan, 779 F.2d 1421, 9 1423 (9th Cir. 1986). Dismissal has also been held to be an appropriate sanction for failure to 10 comply with an order to file an amended complaint. See Ferdik v. Bonzelet, 963 F.2d 1258, 11 1260-61 (9th Cir. 1992). 12 13 14 15 Having considered these factors, and in light of plaintiff’s failure to prosecute this case as directed, the court finds that dismissal of this action is appropriate. Accordingly, the undersigned recommends that this action be dismissed, without prejudice, for lack of prosecution and failure to comply with court rules and orders. 16 These findings and recommendations are submitted to the United States District 17 Judge assigned to the case, pursuant to the provisions of 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(l). Within 14 days 18 after being served with these findings and recommendations, any party may file written 19 objections with the court. Responses to objections shall be filed within 14 days after service of 20 objections. Failure to file objections within the specified time may waive the right to appeal. 21 See Martinez v. Ylst, 951 F.2d 1153 (9th Cir. 1991). 22 23 24 25 DATED: November 5, 2013 ______________________________________ CRAIG M. KELLISON UNITED STATES MAGISTRATE JUDGE 26 2

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